The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-04-20

mo more. Walt There are here in camp
good hundred men who have sworn to the
same"
"Yes, am one, said Sandy. II tried it
twice, but failed. l think the Colonel
would like to have done it himself. but you
BEE Leydham was too slick. He did his
duty correctly and promptly, and gave the
Colonel no chance to 'keel-haul him. He
made no confidant; he kept his own coun-
sci. Yes, it was fearful thing The Dea-
cons prophetic foreboding as to Ethel
came true. Ii cured the Colonel of his
theatrical craze, and he figures no longer
as the finale hero for speechifying; be is
changed man. But, my Lord at what
sacrifice, and what fearful decd"
The next day i rejoined my comrades,
and few weeks later came the grand
movement which crushed out the war, and
l did not again see Tom for many months.
In one OF the engagements 1 was badly
wounded and sent home to die or recover.
After a time. under the care of tender
hands and loving hearts, my sufferings
gradually ceased and was convalescent. L
grew strong and longed to be back among
the battle SCARED and tried heroes, to
share their danger and hardships, and par
ticipate in the brilliant movements and
fighting around Petersburg. l read and
e-read all accounts, / saw the names of
many of my friends among the wounded
and killed, and knew promotion awaited
me-maybe Majors or Coloners eagles
were to be mine. The terrible South Side
battles" were reported, and among the
wounded were the names of Tom and
Sandy. groaned, with my heart full OF
sorrow and sympathy, as l read their names
and prayed that they were not seriously
hurt. Three weeks later | had, as often
did, seated myself upon the postoffice steps
to read the papers, seldom received let
ters, but watched the mails in hopes OF
receiving my orders to report for duty-but,
instead of reading the lines on the paper,
my mind slipped into revere and visions
of the past; the trouble. sorrow, hardships
and dangers, foated before me upon thu
paper in my hand. was aroused from this
meditation by powerful slap on the
shoulder and hearty voice crying:
"Officer of the guard, arrest this man for
sleeping at his post.
| jumped TO my feet turned, and found
myself facing and looking into the twink
ling eyes OF Tom. AS l held out my hand
to greet him he extended his iett, and then
/ noticed that his right arm had been am
putated at the elbow. A sharp pang of
pain went to my heart, and inquiringly L
touched the empty sleeve. He answered,
tersely, "South Side" After our greeting
was over 1 invited him to my home. He
accepted, saving, IL have something 10 tell
you;' and when we were seated in my room
he continued thus
"a few weeks after your visit TO our camp
we began, not the On to Richmond but
the ON to Victory march. L will not
bother YOU with details of our marching
COMMUNICATING and thanking, without re-
treats. Old Grant said We had never fought
our battles through, but now he was giving
us n chance. if it took all summer; and L
tell YOU it was the business end of bayonet
and musket that spoke. After one of these
engagements, which had been short and
fierce. also bloody. | was fortunate in
finding a Confederate Captain who had
been wounded, and tainted from loss of
blood. Contrary to rules, regulations and
orders, l took him to my quarters and cared
for him, he pledging his word to be honor
able, and not to report anything: L gave
him a suit of blue ard part of my blanket
One night, IL some way We got to talking
about our different CT mps during the last
year, and | mentioned our winter quarters.
He asked me if / was III the picket attack
fight. l told him Yes, and in that
affair we lost fine officer. by the name
of Harrington. What! he exclaimed, liar
rington, tall, e-looking young fellow.
seemingly dazed by some sorrow inflicted
by some one he calls EthelY You may try
TO imagine my establishment; can't tell
you half how | talked and what l told
him. When l had finished he said be
knew where both Will and Levdham were
imprisoned, just out of Richmond. 'On
that night OF the picket outpost fight had
been hurt in the leg and fell to the ground.
The regiment passed ON and was soon
driven back, but rallying, they drove you
Yanks back into the wood to the left. At
this time / recovered and was about TO re-
join my company, when l discovered a tall,
dark man spring upon another man who
seemed to be wounded. The dark man
was knocked down twice by the wounded
man. On the last knock-down he had
found q bayonet and with it he sprang at
the wounded man and would undoubtedly
kaye killed him had | not interfered by
capturing both at the muzzles of two ugly
looking revolvers. / then learned that
Harrington and Leydham were their
names. They were marched to Rich
mond and are there confinedp Well,
after considerable trouble / arranged
for Captain Sinclair TO escape to Rich
mond and release Will and get him safely
through his lines to ours. Waited long
weeks. 40 last, at Fort He'll, or Sedgwick,
L received the signal, and before morning
l received poor Will. II perfect wreck, into
my arms and the embraces of his compa-
NY. After we had cared for him week he
began to regain his strength, and, on be-
ing asked about Leydham, he shook his
head. and handed me letter from Captain
Sinclair. Here it is; read it:
Lieutenant Putnam:
"DEAR SIR-After long delay caused
by circumstances unexpected and your
friend Leydham, L am at last able 10
fulfill my promise to you In regard 10 Mr.
Harrington's escape aud return TO your army.
without much trouble | found my way TO
Richmond and to the place where Harrington
and Leydham were confined. On my arrival
found the place in Juror of excitement caused
by a hellish deed of Leydham's 1t appears
that all the sound, able-bodieI men had been
ordered to report 10 The front for duty, thereby
leaving the crippled and manned to care for
the prisoners The work in and around the
house was done by wenches Among the lat
ter beautiful mulatto girl of eighteen
whose duty was to carry in rations to the sew
eral prisoners and sweep the halls. Among
her prisoners Mr.. Harrington aud Leydham
occupied separate cells TO this mulatto girl
Leydham paid particular attention, praising
her beauty Of face aud form, and saying one
like her should fill higher and better position
in life: that i'm the nd from whence he came